West Chester Academy Faculty

Meet our instructors!

You definitely understand child development and the variable paths that your students will take. I think you can equally teach students who want to become concert pianists or merely develop their hobby. Mary Weatherington, Parent
Ms. Patsy Rabinowitz photo

Ms. Patsy

Director

Ms. Patsy is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music with a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Cincinnati of the College Conservatory of Music where she was a recipient of a Van Cliburn Scholarship. She studied with David Bar-Illan and Bela Siki and has taught piano for over 50 years. She has appeared as soloist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and was named Ohio Music Teacher of the Year for 2005-2006 by the Ohio Music Teachers Association. She has served as the president of the Ohio Music Teachers Association, Southwest District, and has served on the executive board of the Ohio Music Teachers Association.

Music Instructors

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Mr. Andrew

Piano

Mr. Andrew has studied piano and organ since childhood. He serves as organist at Covenant-First Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati. Prior appointments include Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, MN; First Congregational Church in Spencerport, NY; and the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas on the campus of the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. He received his BA in organ performance from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, and his MM in organ performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Mr. Andrew has performed as choral accompanist and recitalist throughout the US and Europe. Also a prize-winning composer, he has received several private and institutional commissions. His pieces have been premiered by members of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the faculties of the University of St. Thomas and St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. The weekly syndicated radio program Pipedreams, hosted by Michael Barone, has featured his compositions for organ.

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Mr. Andy

Piano

Mr. Andy is a Cincinnati-based keyboard player whose stylistic influences range from Elton John to Oscar Peterson. A native of Massillon, Ohio, he began studying classical piano at the age of 7. By the age of 15 Mr. Andy was performing with local blues and rock acts and later enrolled in the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music as a jazz studies major. Mr. Andy graduated in 2018 and moved to Nashville where he toured with multiple country and southern rock artists including Kyle Daniel and The Desert City Ramblers. He relocated to Cincinnati in 2021 and performs frequently around the city with various funk and jazz groups while continuing to tour with The Desert City Ramblers. Outside of music his interests include chess, reading, history, and basketball.

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Ms. Beth

MYC, Piano

Ms. Beth is passionate about music. She began playing piano at age 7 and has been playing for church and choirs since her high school days. She studied piano and voice at Warner University (Florida) where she was able to participate in and travel with various choirs and ensembles. Ms. Beth began teaching piano in 1995. Married to a pastor, she has five children, all of whom excel in music. She loves teaching and is able to help her students develop proficiency in mastering the piano and in music theory.

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Ms. Carmen

Piano

Ms. Carmen comes from a large family of musicians. She started taking piano lessons at age 8 and has been teaching piano students since she was 15 years old. She spent a year attending school in Salzburg, Austria and experiencing its musical culture under the Rotary Exchange Student Program. Ms. Carmen studied piano under Dr. Thomas Lanners at Oklahoma State University where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music. She has taught music in public and private schools in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. She and her husband have been West Chester Academy parents since 2013, and their children can be found in the dance and music hallways in the building year round. Ms. Carmen is the director of a family scholarship foundation and enjoys researching genealogy and sharing her family’s history in books and video projects. She is a member of the Music Teachers National Association.

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Mr. Dennis

Piano, Voice, Brass, Guitar

Mr. Dennis has been immersed in music since age three, studying piano and music fundamentals at CCM, and later adding trumpet and strings. A graduate of the School for the Creative and Performing Arts, he majored in art, vocal music, and music composition, minored in conducting, and performed with the Cincinnati Opera Company. He majored in Music Composition at The University of the Arts and continued private studies in brass and woodwind instruments. With over 30 years as a private instructor and five years as a classroom music assistant, he has served as music director and keyboardist for three congregations. Mr. Dennis has directed music for over fifty regional theater productions and has performed with notable artists like Dolly Parton and Leonard Bernstein. Currently, he is the Artistic Director/Music Director at Mt. Washington UMC, Music Director and Accompanist with the Cincinnati Choral Academy, and Choral Director of the Ashton Angels.

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Ms. Dennitza

Piano

Born and raised in Bulgaria, Ms. Dennitza started her formal music education at the age of 6 at the prestigious Dobrin Petkov Music School in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. After completing high school, MMs. Dennitza came to the United States to continue her studies with Dr. Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse and later Ms. Eda Mazzo Shlyam. She obtained her BM in Piano Performance at the Atlantic Union College and MM in Piano Performance at the Longy School of Music. Ms. Dennitza has performed as a soloist with the NEYE in US, Canada and Mexico. She has given recitals in Europe and the United States. Ms. Dennitza has been teaching piano since 2003 and is excited to share her love of music with her students.

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Mr. Jacob

Piano

Mr. Jacob is a composer and pianist with a masters degree in composition from Bowling Green State University and a bachelors degree in composition from University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. As a composer his music is filled with infectious grooves and lush textures. He frequently writes for many different mediums including concert bands and electronic music. As a performer, Mr. Jacob was classically trained but enjoys playing in a variety of styles including classical, jazz, funk, and blues. He believes that value can be found in all music and enjoys helping his students discover the music they value.

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Ms. Janny

Piano

Ms. Janny is an accomplished classical pianist and guzheng soloist who completed her Master of Music in Piano Performance at Miami University under the tutelage Dr. Siok Lian Tan. She is passionate about the performing arts, with over 8 years experience piano accompaniment for singers, choirs, ensembles, solo instruments. She is experienced in tutoring, singing, dancing, and conducting both choirs and orchestras as well. Her diversified musical experiences well equipped her for a lifelong musical career in both the Western and Chinese music industries.

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Ms. Jenna

Piano, Music for Young Children, The Music Class® Director

A graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Ms. Jenna has studied piano since age five. Ms. Jenna is certified as a Music for Young Children instructor and a The Music Class® instructor. She has won numerous competitions, and has attended summer camps and workshops. She is a member of the Music Teachers National Association and served as the Event Chair of the OMTA Masquerade Musicale. She teaches private and group piano lessons.

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Ms. Ke Pan

Piano

Ms. Ke Pan, originally from China, began her music education at age 5. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Ohio University and a Master of Music from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Currently pursuing a Doctor of Arts in Piano Performance at Ball State University, she has served as a piano graduate assistant and freelance pianist, winning second place at the 2022 Vienna International Art Festival. At UTSA, she received several prestigious awards and has been a dedicated church pianist since 2010.

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Mr. Liming

Piano

Pianist Liming Yang earned his bachelor's and Master's degree at Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Cleveland Institute of Music, where he won several scholarships and awards. He won a first prize in the "Liszt Memorial Prizes", HongKong-International Piano Open Competition. Liming started teaching since 2018, now he is pursuing his DMA degree with full scholarship in CCM.

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Mr. Max K.

Piano

Mr. Max began studying Classical piano at age 7 and quickly took on a love for all sorts of music; from Bach to Bill Evans. Max has studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and is currently studying Jazz Piano at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, with Dr. Sergio Pamies. Max has led musical pits, church congregations, and jazz combos. He is excited to share the world of music with students!

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Ms. Rosemary

Piano, Clarinet

Ms. Rosemary has found delight in playing music since age six, and her focus as a teacher is encouraging joy, independence, and community through music. She received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2016 and her Master of Music from Indiana University in 2018. In 2018, Ms. Rosemary moved to Tucson, AZ where she taught lessons at the University of Arizona, instructed music education students in clarinet methods, and maintained a studio of up to forty piano students. An active performer, she has played with the Mason Symphony Orchestra, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and the Tucson Pops Orchestra. She now lives in Liberty Township where she enjoys running at the local parks.

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Ms. Reba

Voice, Young Musicians, Music for Young Children (MYC)

Ms. Reba is a Miami University (OH) graduate that has performed in countless productions with Miami Opera. As an undergraduate student majoring in Vocal Performance, she has played the roles of Fiordiligi in W.A. Mozart's opera Cosi fan tutte, Nancy in Benjamin Britten's opera Albert Herring, and Madeline/Isabelle in Henry Mollicone's one-act opera The Face on the Barroom Floor. She was also in productions such as A Grand Night for Singing, where she performed a rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, The Christmas Waltz, The Christmas Song, and many more. Ms. Reba has also received awards, such as, 1st place in the sophomore and freshman women categories at the NATS Buckeye Chapter competition, she also won 1st place in the Undergraduate Artist Competition held at Miami, and she was awarded the Richard Miller Award for Singing her sophomore year at the NATS Buckeye Chapter competition - this honor is awarded to the singer who best displays overall vocal excellence and performance.

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Ms. Lauren

Voice

Lauren Maynus, soprano, is a graduate of Miami University with her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She has won many regional competitions, including the Cincinnati Overture Awards, Dayton Opera Competition, and the Ohio NATS Competition, where she also received the Richard Miller Award for Fine Singing and placed first in their Hall Johnson Spiritual Competition. Lauren has participated in many programs for young singers domestically and abroad, including the program for young singers at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, YoungArts Week in Miami, Florida, the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria and FIO Italia in Urbania, Italy where she sang the role of Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. When she isn’t performing opera, she enjoys singing and playing the guitar for her golden retriever, Tara.

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Ms. Amy

The Music Class®

Ms. Amy has a real love for working with kids and youth. Her appreciation of the arts has blossomed into the life of an artist in the areas of poetry, song writing, singing, sketch, and illustration. Ms. Amy's classical training in voice began at age fifteen and she continued with private lessons through age twenty. She has lived internationally several times, and at age sixteen her family moved to the former Soviet Union where she entered musical college to study voice as a mezzo-soprano. She has experience singing professionally across many genres of music; in rock, folk, bluegrass, country, pop, indie, commercial anthems, worship, musical theatre, classical voice, and has taught vocal workshops and private lessons. The voice is her instrument of choice, and she is passionate to communicate to her students that it is the best instrument. She can be seen performing around town on stage with her sister duo, "The Carolines," and has a solo album in progress.

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Mr. Ken

Trumpet, Brass, Jazz

Mr. Ken earned a Bachelors of Science in Music Education and Master of Music degrees from Miami University. Post-graduate studies in Music Education and Jazz Studies were taken at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Mr. Ken’s professional background includes performances with Dizzy Gillespie, the Manhattans, Mills Brothers, George Benson, and others. Trumpet studies include master classes with Bobby Shew, Arturo Sandoval, and Alan Vizzutti. Jazz ensembles in southwestern Ohio, of which he is a part, include Xavier University, Sinclair College (Dayton), Jazz Central Big Band (Dayton) and Maple Knoll Big Band (Cincinnati). Mr. Ken is also a part of the Miami University Campus Owls Tribute Band in Oxford. Mr. Ken’s professional affiliations include the American Federation of Musicians, National Association for Music Education, Ohio Music Education Association, and Jazz Education Connection of Ohio.

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Ms. Anne

Flute

Ms. Anne is a dynamic flutist and educator based in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a teacher, she is dedicated to inspiring young flutists to enjoy the process of learning and practicing their instrument. She is passionate about giving her students the tools they need to grow into well-rounded musicians and individuals. As an active orchestral and chamber performer, Ms. Anne is always searching for new ways to bring the knowledge she gains from performing into her teaching. Anne earned her bachelor’s degree in Flute Performance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where she studied with Dr. Shelly Monier. She completed her master’s degree at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) studying with Demarre McGill. She is currently working towards her Artist Diploma at CCM.

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Ms. Chung-Hsien

Flute, Piano

Ms. Chung-Hsien received her doctoral degree and master degree from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. Currently. She is on the flute faculty of the Preparatory Department at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music and is a substitute flutist in the Lima Orchestra. She has studied and performed the piano since the age of 7. Ms. Chung-Hsien has played in numerous concerts with several orchestras as a flute principal and piccolo player and in recitals as a soloist. She has studied with Dr. Garner, Prof. Demarre McGill, Prof. Randy Bowman and Prof. Henrik Heide. Ms. Chung-Hsien attended Académie Internationale D'été De and studied with Maestro Claude Lefebvre and Philippe Pierlot in 2013 and William Bennett Flute Masterclass in 2012. As an educator, Ms. Chung-Hsien has been teaching students age 4 years old to adult, levels beginner to professional for more than 10 years. She is a very experienced teacher with patience and teaching passion. Her students have received excellent grades and comments from RCM exams and annual recitals.

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Ms. Kate

Clarinet, Saxophone

Ms. Kate is a clarinetist in the Cincinnati area, passionate about teaching, collaborating, and performing. She holds a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree there, serving as the Graduate Assistant in Clarinet. She has performed with the CCM Wind Ensemble, Concert Orchestra, Chamber Winds, Queen City Orchestra, and in several musical theater pits. In 2016, she attended the Music Academy International in Italy, performing in the pit orchestra for Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutti. Ms. Kate was a finalist in the 2017 Lawrence University Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition and received a Graduate Incentive Award at CCM in 2018. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Clarinet Performance and Mathematics from Lawrence University. Her primary teachers include Christopher Pell, David Bell, Andrew Marriner, Amy McCann, and Meghan Cabral. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Kappa Lambda.

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Mr. Dave

Guitar, Bass, Piano, Banjo

Mr. Dave has taught Music Theory, Keyboard Theory, and Guitar Theory at the post-secondary level, incorporating elements of theory, ear training, and the Nashville Number System into his instruction for guitar, bass, piano, and banjo. He played bass for Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods, achieving a #1 hit with “Billy, Don't Be a Hero” and appearing on numerous TV shows. After relocating to Cincinnati to be near family, he served as a rhythm and bass guitarist for a nationally broadcast church. From 1999 to 2006, he was a faculty member at Brownsville Revival School of Ministry, arranging for worship teams and teaching students how to create lead sheets, chord charts, and write vocal and horn parts. Passionate about musical theatre, he has played in orchestra pits for numerous productions. Mr. Dave holds a Master Certificate in Arranging from Berklee College of Music.

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Mr. Joe

Guitar, Ukelele

Mr. Joe loves to inspire, enlighten, and empower others through music. In 2005, he started playing guitar while studying Digital Television Production at Scarlet Oaks Vocational School. He continued to learn bass, drums, ukelele, and keyboard over the years. In 2019, he began writing, recording, arranging, and releasing his own original music. He loves to spend time with his family and have fun!
 

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Mr. Jack

Drums

Mr. Jack is from Peoria Illinois. At the age of five he began studying the Suzuki Method for the Violin. When he turned 12 he began studying drum set and percussion where he found his true passion for listening to and playing music. He has played in several symphonic, percussion, and jazz ensembles under instruction from incredible jazz educators and performers such as Adam Larson and Peggy Bonner. He currently studies wishing Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he is instructed by Art Gore and is involved in several ensembles both in and out of school. Mr. Jack specializes in the jazz tradition but loves and appreciates all forms of music; percussive and non percussive. He has a special love for seeing other peoples’ goals be achieved and is happy to find that teaching and sharing music.

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Mr. Timothy

Drums

Timothy Knight holds a Master’s Degree in Music Performance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Performance from Miami University, studying under percussion teachers Michael LaMattina, Patrick Schleker, and Chris Tanner. He performed in various ensembles, including marching band, wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, Japanese taiko group, and steel band, and was a marimba soloist in 2018. He traveled with the marching band to perform at Bengals games and the Bands of America Grand National Championship. As an educator and freelance percussionist, he has taught front ensemble sections for several high school marching bands and is a percussionist/timpanist for the River's Edge Brass Band. Timothy also plays at church services and special events and has been teaching private lessons since graduating.

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Ms. Alayne

Violin / Viola

Ms. Alayne is a violinist, private instructor, and arts administrator based in Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated from Kenyon College in 2017 with degrees in Music and Sociology, earning the Thomas B. and Mary M. Greenslade Award for Music Performance, first place in the Knox County Symphony Young Musicians Competition, and Distinction in Music. After college, she freelanced across Central Ohio, performing with regional orchestras, building a violin studio, engaging in arts administration, and creating original projects from house concerts to large showcase events. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

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Ms. Lacee

Cello

Lacee Link, currently pursuing her Master’s at Miami University as a Graduate Assistant under Dr. Sarah Kim, is an active teacher and performer in Ohio. She teaches at the Virginia Glick Music Academy and West Chester Academy, serves as Co-Principal of the Miami University Symphony Orchestra, and coaches chamber and private lessons at the Oxford Summer Music Institute. She holds a Master’s degree from Boise State University, where she performed with the Boise Philharmonic and won first prize in the Concerto-Aria competition. Link, who studied at Kennesaw State University under Charae Krueger, has coached successful students, received masterclass instruction from notable cellists, and attended summer music institutes on merit-based scholarships. She completed Suzuki training book 1 and began book 2 training in April 2024 under Dr. Alice Ann O’Neill.

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Ms. Angela

Acting

Ms. Angela has been in the performing arts since she took up dancing at three years old. She began singing in middle school and dove into musical theatre in high school. After studying English literature and secondary education at Washington University in St. Louis, she decided to combine her passions for English and theatre by earning her Master of Letters and Master of Fine Arts degrees in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin University. Since then, she has been working as a professional theatre artist and teacher with groups such as Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company and St. Andrews University. No matter her students’ ages or experience levels, she’s dedicated to developing their skills and confidence, whether their goal is acting professionally or simply feeling more comfortable being themselves.

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Mr. Francis

Acting

Mr. Francis, a transplanted Rhode Islander, has held virtually every position in the theatre: actor, coach, director, playwright, professor, singer, stage combat choreographer, and more. His play Another Part of the Field was selected for the New Play Lab at the William Inge Theater Festival where he workshopped with Tony Nominee Lee Blessing and Tony Award winners Daisy Eagan and David Henry Hwang. Francis has also worked with Pigeon Creek Shakespeare, Thomas More College, St. Andrews University, Brown Mackie Cincinnati, and Children’s Performing Arts of Miamisburg, and many community theatre groups. He earned his BFA in theatre from the University of Rhode Island, and his MLitt and MFA in Shakespeare and Performance from Mary Baldwin University. His classes emphasize challenging work, positive reinforcement, and fun.

Dance Instructors

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Ms. Abby

Team technique

Ms. Abby began dancing at age 3. She started competition dance at age 11 and has training in ballet, pointe, jazz, musical theatre, lyrical, and modern. She continued to dance through high school and college. All four years at Miami University, Ms. Abby participated in Dance Theatre, an on-campus contemporary dance company, where she gained experience choreographing, teaching, and performing. Ms. Abby has a passion for dance and learning, and enjoys watching her students improve and grow.

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Ms. Addison

Team technique

Ms. Addison began ballet at age 3 and joined a pre-professional company by 12. Over 14 years, she performed many ballets and trained in New York City, Arizona, and Cincinnati. After high school, she discovered her passion for teaching, instructing ballet for four years while earning a degree in Psychology. Now pursuing a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, she plans to use her dance background to inspire movement and self-expression in her clients. She is thrilled to be teaching at WCA!

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Ms. Andrea

Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop

Ms. Andrea began dance at the age of 6 for Darla's Dance studio. At 6 she joined The Dance Line Express where she danced competitively for 10 years. She has studied tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, clogging and hip-hop. She has over 16 years of dancing experience combined with 6 years of teaching experience. Ms. Andrea is very eager to work with the budding new dancers and believes that building good core dance skills are important for the futures of our tiny dancers.

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Ms. Ariel

Jazz, Lyrical, Tap

Ms. Ariel started taking gymnastics classes at age seven and then began her dance career after watching a friend's recital. She started out in instructional tap and quickly joined the competition tap team the next year. Ms. Ariel has training in instructional tap, jazz, lyrical, and ballet as well as competitive tap. The competition teams, of which she was a member, won many overall awards at the Stage One Nationals in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for three years in a row. Her inspiration is watching her students improve each and every week. Ms. Ariel's greatest reward is seeing that she has inspired them to have a lifetime appreciation of dance.

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Ms. Ella

Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Contemporary

Ms. Ella found a love for dance at the age of 3. She started dancing competitively at the age of 9. Ms. Ella absolutely loves teaching and building relationships with students as well as their families and takes great pride in mentoring and encouraging others. Her main goal as a teacher is to express the love she has for dance and to share the joy dancing. Ms. Ella loves to get to know each of her students and watch them grow into amazing dancers!

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Ms. Mollie

Ballet

Ms. Mollie started taking dance at three years old where she attended The Academy of Dance Arts in Middletown, Ohio. Through years of recitals and performances, she starred in the ballet of Alice in Wonderland, and Coppélia. Ms. Mollie attended The University of the Cumberlands where she was a member of their dance team. She has studied all various types of dance but her favorite is ballet and broadway jazz. Ms. Mollie is excited to bring her special love of dance and teach the students the traditions she learned from her home studio. She resides in Middletown, Ohio. Ms. Mollie is studying nursing at the Galen College of Nursing.

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Ms. Olivia

Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical

Ms. Olivia found her love for dance at age three. She was trained in Cincinnati, with Ms. Jennifer as one of her teachers. She has experience in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz and lyrical. In high school, she was very involved in competitions receiving many overall awards. Ms. Olivia student taught during high school and then continued on with her own classroom for three years after graduating. She loves choreographing and challenging her students. She attended Miami University for English with a minor in Spanish.

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Ms. Piper

Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical

Ms. Piper was a dancer with West Chester Academy for 11 years and has loved being a part of the West Chester Academy family. In addition to teaching dance, she also is a 2nd grade teacher. Some of her favorite styles are lyrical and jazz, but she also loves tap and hip hop. Ms. Piper enjoys watching students grow their passion of dance through different styles!

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Ms. Savannah

Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Aerial Silks

Ms. Savannah trained at New Paltz Ballet Theater with former New York City Ballet members Peter Naumann and Lisa Chalmers-Naumann, and former Radio City Rockette Deanna Ford. A highlight of her career was dancing the lead role in Carmina Burana with NYCB Principal dancer Nilas Martins. She trained at prestigious schools like the School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Miami City Ballet. In 2005, she joined the National Broadway tour of Contact, performing across the U.S. and Canada, then spent a season as a trainee with Cincinnati Ballet. She has danced with Louisville Ballet and Columbus Dance Theatre, performing in both contemporary and classical roles. Certified in Progressing Ballet Technique, Ms. Savannah has also been a dedicated teacher and choreographer throughout her career and plans to continue sharing her passion for dance.

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Ms. Sophie

Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical

Ms. Sophie came to WCA with nearly 20 years of diverse dance experience. From a very young age, she trained and competed in lyrical, hip hop, jazz, ballet, tap, Latin ballroom, smooth ballroom, musical theater, modern, and improv. She has also practiced gymnastics recreationally throughout her dance training, and has always loved learning new tricks to incorporate into her choreography. In college, she received a performance and choreography dance minor degree, and was apart of a performance team in which she was a dancer and choreographer. Dance has always been an expressive outlet and a passion of hers that she loves to share with others.

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Ms. Stacie

Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop

Ms. Stacie began dancing at Downie School of Dance in Fairfield, OH when she was 9 years old. Later renamed The Dance Company, she studied tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical, hip hop and acrobatics for over 10 years under Elizabeth Eckhoff. She has performed with the Greater Hamilton Civic Theatre, and loves to continue her education with different genres of dance as often as possible including Bollywood, swing, and modern. Ms. Stacie loves sharing these techniques and styles with her students in order to ensure a well-rounded dance education, and hopefully spark a lifelong passion for the arts.

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Ms. Taylor

Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop

Ms. Taylor began dancing at age 3 with Ms. Jennifer, Ms. Olivia, and Ms. Ariel, training in jazz, lyrical, tap, and ballet/pointe. She was on her high school's cheerleading and dance teams and performed at the 2015 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl and Disney World. Now an acute care physical therapist at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, she combined her love of dance and physical therapy during a clinical rotation at the Cincinnati Ballet. Ms. Taylor enjoys teaching in the WCA competition program, helping to build strong and healthy dancers.

Gymnastics Instructors

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Coach Rob

Gym Director

Coach Rob has spent most of his life involved in gymnastics and cheerleading starting at age 4 with recreational gymnastics and progressing to competitive levels through high school. After completing high school, he attended college where he was a cheerleader. Coach Rob is an accredited member of USA Gymnastics which requires extensive training in safe sports. He has coached all levels and most recently worked with levels 7-10. He was honored to have coached state, regional and national qualifiers and champions. In addition, he has been selected numerous times as a clinician at regional camps and clinics. After working several years as a coach, Coach Rob helped open a family gymnastic business, Flip n Twist Gymnastics. He spent the past 18 years managing and coaching at Flip n Twist Gymnastics and has now joined the staff at West Chester Academy. When not instructing gymnastics, he enjoys watching football, fishing, traveling and being with friends.

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Coach Brooke

Assistant Director

Coach Brooke graduated early from Lakota West High School in 2019. Shortly after graduating she started coaching at West Chester Academy and is now the assistant gymnastics director. One of her favorite things about working at WCA is building relationships with students, parents and staff. She is very passionate about working with kids and really enjoys being able to teach and see her students progress. Her goals are to challenge her students in a positive way where they can grow to be excellent gymnasts. Outside of the gym she has been taking classes to obtain her real estate license and her hobbies include reading, swimming and hanging out with her cats.

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Coach Jamie

Gymnastics, Tumbling

Coach Jamie began gymnastics at age 2 in Illinois, competing until age 16 at level 9. She started coaching at 14 and continued through high school and college, where she also cheered at Eastern Illinois University. After moving to Ohio with her husband, Scott, she became a kindergarten teacher and coached Hamilton High School’s varsity gymnastics team. Now a mother of two, Micah and Esli, she is excited to be part of West Chester Academy. Passionate about growing children into incredible gymnasts and being a positive influence, she believes in building strong relationships and challenging kids to reach their highest potential, passing on the transformative impact gymnastics had on her life.

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Coach Olivia

Gymnastics, Tumbling

Coach Olivia was a cheerleader and gymnast from the start of 1st grade to the end of her senior year in high school. She is a Lakota West graduate and now attends the University of Cincinnati. Coach Olivia is a Middle Childhood Education major and has a great passion for working with kids. She is a certified tumbling instructor and is CPR certified through the American Red Cross. Coach Olivia says her favorite part about working in the gym is cultivating new relationships with students and parents. She has been coaching at West Chester Academy since 2017. When outside of the gym, Coach Olivia dedicates her time to getting involved within her university. She also volunteers for a non profit sports organization. She loves spending time with her family and friends and her favorite hobby is traveling!

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Coach Stacie

Gymnastics, Aerial Silks

Coach Stacie began gymnastics lessons when she was 6 years old, and gravitated towards acrobatics a few years later. She is USAG Safety and Risk Management certified, as well as CPR and First Aid certified. Besides gymnastics, she has 15 years of dance experience ranging from ballet to hip hop to modern. She practices yoga and enjoys blending dance technique, gymnastic instruction, and yoga discipline. She finds that it creates a stronger athlete overall. While participating in a dance workshop a few years ago, she discovered the art of Aerial Silks and fell in love with it. Coach Stacie has trained under Erin Welch and Tracey Wozny and is fond of sharing this unique and challenging art form with her students, both dance and gymnastics alike.

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